Born in 1997
What the world looked like the year you arrived: prices, names, music and who was in charge.
Chinese zodiac
Fire Ox
from Feb 7, 1997. Born earlier? Rat.
Generation
Gen Z
President
Bill Clinton
#1 baby names
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What things cost
Sample dataGallon of gas
$1.23
US average, regular
$2.47 in 2025 dollars
First-class stamp
32¢
US Postal Service
$0.64 in 2025 dollars
Minimum wage
$4.75/hr
federal
New home
$147,900
median price, estimated
$296,629 in 2025 dollars
Movie ticket
$4.77
US average, estimated
$9.56 in 2025 dollars
New car
$21,600
average price, estimated
Computer
$999
Macintosh Classic (1990), launch price
$2,460 in 2025 dollars
Video game system
$199.99
Nintendo 64 (1996), launch price
$410 in 2025 dollars
Video game
$50–$70
new game, N64 and PlayStation era, approximate
US national figures in then-dollars, at mid-year. Some figures are estimates. Computer, game system and TV prices are launch prices of landmark models, and the game price is an approximate range for that era, so none of them is an average.
Pop culture
Sample dataPop culture for 1997 is still being added.
Famous people born in 1997
Sample dataSimone Biles · gymnastMarch 14